Amb. Bútora Reflects on Slovakia’s First 20 Years
Martin Bútora, former Slovak ambassador to the United States, delivered the 13th Annual Czech and Slovak Freedom Lecture on November 16, 2012. He was introduced by Wilson Center Executive Vice President and COO Michael Van Dusen. A capacity audience filled the Woodrow Wilson Center auditorium to hear his thoughts on “20 Years of Independence: Reflections […]
“My Slovakia-My Family” by John Palka
John Palka, scion of one of the most distinguished families in the history of Slovakia, has written a masterful account of Slovakia’s history. The Hodža and Palka families played a significant role in Slovakia’s history. John Palka’s mother was the daughter of Milan Hodža, the last prime minister of interwar Czechoslovakia. Mr. Palka attended the […]
City Architecture in Slovakia by Dr. Edward Toran
Ambassador Peter Kmec and Friends of Slovakia co-sponsored a lecture on October 8 at the Slovak Embassy by Dr. Edward Toran of New York City. Dr. Toran is an expert on art history, architecture, and interior design and currently works at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He came to the United States after the Soviet […]
Slovakia in the EU 10 Years On: Promises Fulfilled?
The spring of 2004 was momentous in the history of independent Slovakia. On May 1st of that year, the country joined the EU. Coming as it did less than five weeks after Slovakia joined NATO, this marked the culmination of a long process that was highly uncertain in the 1990s. A decade later, we can now reflect on what enabled Slovakia to join these European and trans- Atlantic structures, and how the subsequent integration has fared.
EDUCATION MINISTER HONORED
At a reception in Pittsburgh honoring Dusan Caplovic, Slovak Minister of Education, Joseph Senko, chairman of the Friends of Slovakia, presented Dr. Caplovic with the Friends of Slovakia Medal of Honor. Dr. Dusan Caplovic is a Slovak politician, formerly a historian and archeologist. From 2006 to 2010, he served as the Deputy Prime Minister for […]
AeroMobil at the Slovak Embassy
The Slovak AeroMobil was presented to an appreciative audience at the Slovak Embassy EU Open House on May 9 by Peter Kolesár of the Business and Innovation Unit. Friends of Slovakia procured a scale model of the AeroMobil and will sponsor its display for the next three years as part of a traveling exhibit aimed […]
“Veterans of WWII” Film Screened at the Embassy
Dusan Hudec showed and then commented on his brilliant film “Veterans of World War II” on May 14, 2015 at the Slovak Embassy in Washington, D.C. Friends of Slovakia supported the production of Mr. Hudec’s companion film, “The Final Mission”, shown at the Embassy last November. A photo exhibit drawn from “The Final Mission” picturing […]
FOS Co-Sponsors Holocaust Remembrance Photo Exhibit by Yuri Dojc
On January 28, 2016, Friends of Slovakia co-sponsored the opening of an exhibition of unique photos commemorating the Holocaust entitled “Last Folio”. The opening event was held at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. in cooperation with the Embassy of Slovakia and the Embassy of Canada. The exhibit is open to the public until […]
“How Cleveland Played a Crucial Role in U.S. Diplomacy in Central Europe” with Amb. Tod Sedgwick
Former U.S. Ambassador to Slovakia and Friends of Slovakia Board of Advisors member Tod Sedgwick gave a fascinating luncheon presentation on “How Cleveland Played a Crucial Role in U.S. Diplomacy in Central Europe” on September 26, 2017. Ambassador Sedgwick gave a brief overview of the history of Slovak emigration to the U.S. He described why […]
Foreign Policy Presentation by Pavol Demeš
On November 13, 2017, Pavol Demeš, a renowned Slovak expert on international relations and civil society, gave a talk titled “Slovakia and the United States: The Ties that Bind” at the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Washington D.C. The event was co-sponsored by Friends of Slovakia (FOS) and the Slovak Republic Embassy. The audience […]